Saddle



UNTTED STATES PATE TOE.

THOMAS MARDOCK, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

SADDLE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Tiros. MARDOCK, of Cincinnati, Hamilton county, Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Saddles; and l hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and eXact description thereof, reference being had to the annexed drawing, making part of this specilication.

l so construct a saddle as to make every part of it accessible for examination, repair, alteration or substitution.

ln the annexed drawings Figure l is a perspective view of what I term the saddle bed, being the saddle divested of its seat. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the seat detached from the bed. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the seat.

The same letters refer to like parts throughout.

The skirting or pad leather (o) is of two thicknesses sewed together in such a way, around where the spring plates (b) are placed ,as to present. a sheath or pocket for the plates, and the upper leather is slit (o), so that the spring (Z2) can be inserted and by lacing be bound firmly to its seat betweenl the two leaves of the skirting. By thus binding the spring and skirting strongly tof gether they become as one and combine to present the desired amount of stiffness on the one hand and of suppleness on the other.

lllhe cantle (d) and pommel (e) are formed of malleable iron or otherwise, and are riveted to the skit-ting in the manner shown. Both pommel and cantle (especially the latter) are somewhat undercut or rabbeted at their outer ends (l, 2), in order to afford a ready means of attaching and also of detaching the seat (f g It) which is for this purpose furnished with two lips (f, g,) of hard leather, which previous to their attachment to the seat receive their proper form by being blocked upon and carefully fitted, respectively, the one to the cantle and the other to the pommel. The seat also is blocked and tted to my saddle bed in the same wav that the cover is usually fitted to the tree, that is to say by moist application. The cantle is much more undercut than the pommel, and in putting on the seat the rear lip is first applied, and then the fore lip being pushed over the front end of the pommel remains held fast by the latter with perfect security, yet can easily be detached again if desired; but for still further security of the seat, leather tongues may be inserted within orifices (3) in the pommel.

(70) is webbing to stiifen the saddle seat longitudinally.

The flaps (a) are likewise so attached as to be easily removed, being simply strapped at their rear upper corners (el) to the belly of the cantle, and united at their fore upper corners by tongues (0) similar to those on the seat, which are also inserted into orifices in the pommel.

By means of the herein described arrangement of springs they may very readily be replaced or added to or subtracted from, according as experience shall indicate the degree of suppleness desirable o-r according to the weight of the rider or the action of the horse, and by the easy removability of the seat and flaps not only may every portion of the saddle be readily inspected, and if need be repaired, but different seats and flaps may be employed on different occasions, or they may be temporarily removed for quilting or otherwise.

The stirrup loop (m) is riveted to the skirting in a manner not essentially differing from that ordinarily employed, but the stirrup (instead of the usual buckle fastening just below the loop, which is very inconvenient to get at, as all are reminded of who attempt to change the length of a stirrup strap) is secured at the lowest part of the strap, as represented; the eye of the stirrup also constituting for this purpose, the buckle by which the stirrup is attached.

Having thus described the nature of my improvements, what l claim therein as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The construction of a saddle with seat attached to the pommel and cantle, by lips as described, or in any equivalent manner, so as to be easily removable, for the inspection, and if need be alteration of any part of the saddle.

In testimony whereof, l have hereunto set my hand before two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS MARDOCK.

YWitnesses EDWARD H. KNIGHT, MIGHL. V. DALY. 

